MaxStreet Update: Phase One Of Our Fuel System Installation

We’ve been hard at it here in the powerTV garage getting some of the odd and ends of our Project MaxStreet ’66 Chevy II complete, and in order to get you up to speed, we’re going to take a little peek at what we’re up to at the present moment.

In our latest progress report, we took a look at the source of the 1,000-plus horsepower we’re expecting from our 555-inch Edelbrock Big Block Chevrolet powerplant: a big nasty F-2 ProCharger. The engine that formerly powered our Project Grandma Malibu was completely rebuilt and freshened to make way for the new supercharged combination.

The complete fuel system that's being installed in our Project MaxStreet Chevy II that includes primary components from FAST, a fuel tank from Rick's Tanks, and Aeroquip hoses and fittings.

We got the engine and our race-inspired F-2 all mocked up under the hood, along with a monstrous air-to-air intercooler to cool that rushing air and create optimum horsepower. With the engine and ProCharger mounting locations in place, it’s time to fuel that bad boy. Thus, we turn our attention to the fuel system.

As anyone that knows even the basics of high performance engines can attest, it requires a lot of fuel in order to make a lot of horsepower. Because we’re aiming for more than four figures with our new engine combo, the fuel system is certainly no area to skimp on. So we started with our good friends at FAST to help us out.

As you learned in our earlier article outlining our plans for this project, the engine will be topped with FAST’s XFI 2.0 electronic fuel injection system to channel all of the boost and timing, and it only seemed fitting (surely there’s a pun here somewhere) that we take the same direction with our fuel system. After all, there are some benefits, as you will learn.

The Rick's Tanks aftermarket fuel tank being prepared for installation. The hand-fabricated and hand-welded tank bolts right into the factory location, even using the factory mounting points.

The components in the FAST fuel system that we’re utilizing are manufactured by Aeromotive; one of the leading and most respected manufacturers in the racing industry. The kit features a fuel pump capable of some 1,400 horsepower on a boosted EFI combo such as ours, with a maximum potential of 2,300 horses on a naturally aspirated, carburetor-equipped engine. Also in the box is a high-end fuel regulator capable of supporting some 2,000 horsepower with very high fuel volume requirements. FAST also supplies a Y-block for splitting the line between the two fuel rails, and the pre- and post- filters on the inlet line.

The fuel pump will be mounted sump-style outside of a slick looking aftermarket tank that we received from popular muscle car tank manufacturer Rick’s Tanks. The hand-fabricated and hand-welded tank has been designed specifically for the Chevy II and is made of food-grade 304 stainless steel that won’t rust. The tank mounts in the factory location and even bolts up to the factory mounting tabs under the car.

Our FAST fuel pump installed sump-style under the car just forward of the fuel tank.

In order to create the network of fuel line that is the lifeblood of any engine, we turned to Aeroquip, who supplied us with their very popular Startlite racing hoses and fittings. They are not only durable as an ox, but with an all-black finish, they look pretty darn good to boot. These hoses are 45% lighter than comparable stainless steel braided lines and while deemed an OEM replacement, they’re certainly engineered for intense racing.

Starting at the tank mounted behind the rear axle, our fuel system layout begins with a -12 AN hose running to the pre-filter — mounted on the side of the tank — while the pre-filter outlet bends around to the back side of the tank to the pump inlet. The post-filter is mounted directly to the outlet side of the fuel pump and then turns into a -10 AN line. We’ve routed the fuel line along the inner side of the framerails to the engine compartment, where the Y-block and regulator will be installed in the coming days. The return line is routed along the framerails, next to the feed line, and back to the tank. We’ll get into the details of the components and the installation more in-depth in an upcoming two-part tech piece highlighting the fuel system.

With our complete suspension modernization project complete and the fuel system mostly in place, MaxStreet finally got a chance to stand up and stretch her legs a little.

In our next progress update, we’ll drop the engine and the TCI 6X transmission down into the car and re-mount the ProCharger system. Once that’s complete, we’ll round out our plumbing project by mounting the Y-block and fuel regulator and running all the hoses and fitting to and from the engine back to the tank. Stay tuned, as we’ll be bringing you a complete, in-depth look at the first phase of our fuel system installation that we’ve provided a sneak peek at here very shortly. We’re getting close here folks!